Irakli Okruashvili

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Irakli Okhruashvili (born in 1973 in Tskhinvali, Georgia) has served as the Deputy Minister of Justice, Prosecutor General, Minister of Internal Affairs, Defense Minister, and most recently was appointed as the Minister for Economic Development before his resignation after one week from the appointment.

Irakli Okruashvili graduated from Tbilisi State University, Faculty of International Law and Relations. After graduation Mr. Okruashvili worked as an attorney.

Okruashvili served as the Deputy Minister of Justice from 2000 to 2001. He joined Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement and was elected as a member of Tbilisi Sakrebulo in 2002. After the Rose Revolution, Okruashvili was appointed the Person Authorized (governor) of the President of Georgia in Shida Kartli in November 2003 and established strong anti-corruption and anti-smuggling measures in the region.

He served as the Prosecutor General from November 2003 to May 2004. Saakashvili appointed him Interior Minister in May 2004. In December 2004 Saakashvili appointed him Defence Minister.

On October 16, the Versiya published an interview with Okruashvili. Okruashvili said Russia "would lose if the quarrel between the two countries escalates into a shooting war".^[1] The next day the Georgian Ministry of Defense denied that Okruashvili had participated in the interview.^[2] In response, the Russian newspaper asserted that the interview took place and the audio recording of the conversation between the reporter Ruslan Gorevoy and Okruashvili is available.^[2]

On November 10, 2006 Saakashvili appointed him Minister for Economic Development. Davit Kezerashvili became the Minister of Defence.^[3]. Okruashvili resigned as Minister for Economic Development on 17 November 2006.^[4]